Tasting Notes 484 found

Gap’s Crown Vineyard is located on a western hillside of Sonoma Mountain. Originally positioned in the southern section of the Sonoma Coast AVA, the vineyard is now a part of the Petaluma Gap AVA. Certainly, this vineyard is one of California's Grand Cru. I have tasted examples from several producers and all are exceptional. Cool-climate, moderating fog coupled with plenty of sunshine, rocky soils and the wind in the Gap produce wines with delicious complexity. At 5 years, the wine is a beautifully intense bright ruby red, with no signs of aging. Dark cherry fruit with some tartness is the first impression, with baking spices, violets and a hint of earth to follow. No mushrooms or forest floor at this stage of its development. Mouthwatering acidity and a dose of ripe tannin keeps the opulent red berry fruit in balance. The mouthfeel is classis pinot velvet. Wonderful to sip on its own, this wine continued to open up over the course of 5 or 6 hours. (42 views)

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I don't know Red Hills lake Co. wines very well, so I was interested to taste this biodynamic wine. First of all, at 13 years, the wine is in good shape, probably in its prime but it needed nearly 3 hours to lose the upfront fruitiness. It's nearly opaque, but there's not much to the nose. (Perhaps I decanted too long.) Interestingly, the acidity of the wine borders on volatile, noticible as in other raw wines that I have tasted, but here, adding a spark of freshness to the cab fruit. Tannins are moderate and the wine finishes medium. (175 views)

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I've enjoyed several bottles of this wine and it's one of my favorites. One thing I learned-the wine is drinking beautifully now, but still requires, at least, a 1 1/2 hour decant for the secondary characteristics to emerge. Intense ruby red color. Complex nose featuring tart cherry and cola, clove spiciness, the deepest note is tea leaves, no mushroom funkiness, maybe foresr floor. Unique characteristic-mouth-watering juiciness on a texturally soft, velvety frame that finishes long with a pleasantly bitter finish. Mendo pinot all the way. (233 views)

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Second bottle of this wine and it's time to drink up. Similar tasting notes. Highly aromatic, the spices hit me this time-clove, and even incense mixed intense flavors with black raspberries, and tart dark cherry. Juicy, ample tannins, and delicious with an extended and complex finish. From one of California's most prized vineyards. (98 views)

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Goldert Grand Cru covers 111 acres in southern Alsace. Decant for many hours if possible. Delicious fruit and petrol aromas emerged on the second day. Medium gold color, I can see the concentration. Primary aroma of peaches, some pineapple. Deeper, I find the mineral complexity nicely balanced with the fruit and nose-tingling petrol. Similar in the mouth where this wine feels quite youthful. Although I enjoy the freshness drinking the wine now, my guess is that complexity will emerge with 5+ years or more in the bottle. Full, viscous mouthfeel. (For pairing I would go with a little sweetness and umami. Sushi or teriyaki comes to mind.) Tangy acidity and very round with an extended fruit forward finish. (153 views)

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Two hectares of clay and limestone Vaillons cru belong to this family where Adrian is the great grandson of the founder. Fermented in oak and elevage in oak and stainless steel preserves the freshness of the fruit. Bright yellow, the herbal and floral aspects of the nose appear first, especially tarragon and white flowers-honeysuckle and acacia. Lemon and other citrus flavors, some vanilla, but little oak influence other than the elegantly rich texture. Medium plus acidity and an extended, nicely balanced finish. Excellent with raw oysters. Less successful with creamy sauces. (137 views)

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One of my favorite expressions of Grenache. (38% Syrah) I first discovered with Dave Phinney's Shatter Maury sec bottling. Unfiltered and unfined. Aged in foudres for texture rather than oak flavors. Schist and marl soils. Bright dark purple with garnet notes. Highly aromatic dark blue fruits along with intense herbal garrique notes. Full in the mouth, pleasing texture with medium acidity and noticable tannins that will soften with age. Medium balanced finish. (221 views)

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Lert this wine open for at least an hour for the aromatics to appear. Pale yellow color. Medium to light concentration. Inriguing nose. First impression-the bitterness of nuts, then the garden with flowers such as honeysuckle and something herbal like thyme, followed by a zesty lemon. The savoury elements are lifted by an enjoyable medium + acidity, a surprisingly lightly textured mouthfeel given the powerful and lengthy bitterness and fruit finish. Enjoy with any light cream and fish. We had a Boulud recipe with a base of spinach and green beans, topped with a garlic and light tomato sauce. (123 views)

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A nicely aromatic wine with a lovely light gold color. Ample concentration with a powerful tree fruit nose of peaches, peach and apple blossoms, honeysuckle, and a bit of walnut bitterness. Tuscan hills, no coastal notes. Add honeysuckle to the palate. Appealing juicy texture with a medium+ acidity, in this wine that finishes balanced and long. (159 views)

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Bordeaux-like without the smoke flavors that I associate with traditional Rioja. Nearly opaque, ruby with significant rim variation and some bricking.
Unlike other CT comments, I say Drink now. Blackberry, some cherry but mostly savory and spice notes plus leather and cedar. Full mouthfeel, chewy tannins. medium plus acidity and a short finish. A disappointment as I have enjoyed Remelluri often. This bottle seems to be aging quickly to me. (480 views)

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Wonderful example of Sonoma cab now in its drinking window with at least 5 more years to go. Deep, opaque ruby red with hints of purple. Fresh, highly aromatic blackberry and red currant fruit. Earthy, stoney middle with a nice wood finish of nuts and vanilla. Surprizingly, no tertiary notes. Mouthfilling and delicious with a tart cherry (not at all jammy) lift, ripe taninns, well balanced; Long, even elegant, finish. 90 minute+ decant. (192 views)

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Lovely and intense ruby color with some rim variation. Drinking nicely now but has, at least 3 or 4 years to go. Complex highly aromatic nose that begins with Gamay Noir typical pretty candied fruit bowl followed by baking spices and some sweet herbs like majoram or valencia orange. (i sense the connection to Bourgogne here with the solft texture but also something like a slightly oxidized pinot. Similar flavors on the palate adding blueberries. Nice tart acidity to balance the fruit, low tannin and a mouthfeel that caresses the tongue and gums. Moderate distinctive finish. A unique wine. (973 views)

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Looks like a Russian River Valley pinot with a dark ruby color and density. Aroma notes of blue and black fruits , dark cherry with cola and spice. Medium plus acid and low tannin with a moderate finish. The 300 acres of Stanley Ranch are on the eastern most vineyard in the Napa side of Carneros. Part of the vineyard is being developed as an Auberge resort. I feel that past Buena Vista Winery PN from this site ofered more interesting complexity. This wine settles on primary characteristics. (133 views)

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What happens when a cool-climate pinot specialist makes a Cab with Napa Valley (St. Helena AVA) fruit? The result is highly aromatic, light on its feet deliciousness. Opaque bright purple to the rim, this wine has lots of life ahead of it. Black currant, blackberries, mint and vanilla on the nose, delicate rather than powerful, juicy rather than jammy, in a medium + mouthfeel, more noticable acidity than tannins, with still a solid structure for the black fruit to hang on and a long, long nicely balanced finish. Reminds me more of a wine from Coombsville than Diamond Mt., acessible now with sufficient acidity to age well. If any is around in 10 years, it will be interesting to see if this style yields those tertiary characterisitics that Napa Cab lovers prize. (137 views)

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This wine shows its aromatic complexity with very little decanting-30 minutes or so; after that it gradually oxidized by the next day. Medium ruby color, darker and heavier than many West Sonoma Coast pinot. Exciting, enticing and complex nose with cranberry, blueberry and cherry; but, for me, what really stands out is the exotic spiciness of this wine- sandalwood, rose and tea. Medium bodied with a silky texture, no noticable tannin and a medium plus acidity. The medium and balanced finish leaves a memorable impression and the desire to seek out more of this producer. (93 views)

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